National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form
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NFS Form 10-900-b OMB No. 1024-0018 (Revised March 1992) National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form This form is used for documenting multiple property groups relating to one or several historic contexts. See instructions in How to Complete the Multiple Property Documentation Form (National Register Bulletin 168). Complete each item by entering the requested information. For additional space, use continuation sheets (Form 10-900-a). Use a typewriter, word processor, or computer to complete all items. X New Submission __ Amended Submission A. Name of Multiple Property Listing State Parks in Mississippi built by the CCC between 1934 - 1942 B. Associated Historic Contexts (Name each associated historic context, identifying theme, geographical area, and chronological period for each.) Development of Mississippi State Parks between 1934 - 1942 C. Form Prepared by name/title Todd Sanders, Review and Compliance Assistant organizationMississippi Department of Archives and History date 8-15-96 street & number P.O. Box 571________________________ telephone (601) 359-6940 city or town Jackson___________ state MS___________ zip code 39205____________ D. Certification As the designated authority under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, I hereby certify that this documentation form meets the National Register documentation standards and sets forth requirements for the listing of related properties consistent with the National Register criteria. This submission meets the procedural and professional requirements set forth in 36 CFR Part 60 and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guidelines for Archeology and Historic Preservation. (Q See continuation sheet for additional comments.) A. M. Signature and title of certifying official Date State Historic Preservation Officer State or Federal agency and bureau I hereby certify that this multiple property documentation form has been approved by the National Register as a basis for evaluating related properties for listing in the National Register. Signature of the Keeper . Date of Action NPS Form 10-900-a OMB Approval No. 7024-0078 (8-86) United States Department of the interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet State Parks in Mississippi Built Section number 5 Page i by the CCC between 1934-1942 E. STATEMENT OF HISTORIC CONTEXTS Mississippi, along with many other states, began the organized development of state parks in the early 1930s with the aid of several New Deal relief programs initiated by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. These programs were begun as a means of relieving the economic hardships of the Great Depression. During Roosevelt's long administration, the Federal government provided leadership and funding to establish a cooperative effort with many states to develop state parks and other recreation areas. As a result of these federal programs, state park acreage grew nationwide by 67.5% and many states for the first time established agencies to administer parks and recreation areas. (Jones: Section E) Although a few state parks had been in existence since the late nineteenth century, it was not until January, 1921 that an organized national effort was begun to establish state parks. A group of about 200 individuals, under the direction of the National Park Service (established in 1916), met in Des Moines, Iowa at the first National Conference of State Parks. The movement to develop state parks was an outgrowth of the development of the national park system and represents the belief that the state governments had a responsibility, along with the federal government, to provide the public with recreational opportunities. Originally the emphasis in planning state parks was centered around the preservation of an area in its natural state. Recreational use of the area and recreational facilities were of secondary importance. At the time of the first national conference, only 19 states had state park systems. By the mid-1920s, however, all 48 states had started some kind of development program.(Jones: Section E; Cohen: 91) History of Mississippi State Parks In 1926 the Mississippi State Legislature, because of an increased interest in the State's forest problems caused by years of clear-cutting by lumber companies with little or no plans for reforestation, created the Mississippi Forestry Commission through an Act to provide for reforestation in Mississippi. In the third section of this Act, the Governor was "authorized to accept gifts of land to be held, protected and administered by the Commission as State forests and parks". No parks were ever acquired under this act, however (Lang: 1). By 1930, the depression had severely limited park projects all across the country. With the establishment of the Emergency Conservation Works organization in 1933 (renamed the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1937), park development was resumed (Cohen: 91) In early 1934, the Mississippi State Forestry Commission was approached by representatives of the National Park Service, State Park Division. The National Park Service advised the State Forester that a cooperative program to develop state parks was possible, provided that the state furnish the land. Since neither the Forestry Commission nor the counties had statutory authority to NPS Form 10-900-a OMB APP™**1 **>• '024-oora (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service Continuation Sheet State Parks in Mississippi Built Section number 5 Page 2 by the CCC between 1934-1942 purchase lands for the development of state park areas and the state had no legal justification for the use of state-owned lands for park development, the Mississippi Forestry Commission, with the assistance of legislators, civic organizations and individuals, sponsored a bill introduced in that year's legislative session. This bill, known as House Bill 446, provided for the use of state lands for state parks and authorized counties to purchase land to be conveyed to the state for park purposes (History: 1-2) The passage of House Bill 446 was greeted with enthusiasm by community leaders in many parts of the state. Greenville, Tupelo, Meridian, Morton, and Quitman were among the first communities to request the establishment of Civilian Conservation Corps camps in their area for the purpose of developing state parks. The CCC occupied the area that was to become Leroy Percy State Park near Hollandale, Washington County, on May 29, 1934. This date marks the official beginning for construction of state parks in Mississippi (History: 3). At the time that the locations for the new state parks were being occupied by the CCC, the lack of trained personnel in the field of park development in Mississippi was beginning to be seen. As the parks were occupied, the main group of construction workers were assigned to general cleanup and road development until plans for the parks could be prepared. Engineers came in to make boundary and topographical surveys of each proposed park so that organized planning could be done. Had it not been for the involvement of federal technicians employed by the Emergency Conservation Works organization, it is doubtful that the original state parks could have been developed in a manner nearing recognized state park standards (History: 3) Requests for additional CCC camps for the development of state parks continued to be submitted. By July, 1935, a total of nine new parks were under construction. These nine were Leroy Percy in Washington County; Tombigbee in Lee County; Clarkco in Clarke County; Legion in Winston County; Tishomingo in Tishomingo County; Holmes County; Roosevelt in Scott County; Spring Lake (later re-named Wall Doxey) in Marshall County; and Percy Quin in Pike County. As each new state park area was placed under the supervision of the Mississippi Forestry Commission, it became increasingly evident that the commission needed assistance in administrating these new areas. By late 1934, there was a movement to set up a separate board for the supervision of state parks in Mississippi. At its April 15, 1935 meeting, the Forestry commission petitioned the Governor, "That in making future appointments to the State Forestry Commission that not less than two and not more than three such appointees be not only selected with reference to their knowledge of and interest in the continuous production and use of forest products, but also their knowledge of and interest in the development and maintenance of state parks." The State Board of Park Supervisors was created by a Legislative act on March 26, 1936 (History: 4). NPS Form 10-900-a OMB Appr°vai N°- f 024-00 J8 (8-86) United States Department of the Interior National Park Service National Register of Historic Places Continuation Sheet State Parks in Mississippi Built Section number E Page 3 by the CCC between 1934-1942 History of the Civilian Conservation Corps Shortly after his election as president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt called an emergency session of Congress on March 9, 1933, to hear and authorize his program designed to help end the economic and social devastation of the Great Depression. The President's plan called for the recruitment of thousands of unemployed young men to form a peacetime army to combat the destruction and erosion of the nation's natural resources. This program would also provide these men with jobs and training. The Emergency Conservation Work Act (Senate Bill 598), creating what became known as the Civilian Conservation Corps, was introduced in the Senate on March 27, and by March 31, 1933 had been signed into law (Leake: 1). The CCC was jointly administered by the Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, and War. These Departments were assisted by scores of state and federal agencies, including the Department of Labor and the state relief agencies (Leake: 1).. The speed with which the plan moved through proposal, authorization, implementation, and operation was a miracle of cooperation among all branches and agencies of the federal government. It was a mobilization of men, material and transportation on a scale never before known in peace time.